Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Research Article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Birth Weight in Relation to Post-Natal Growth Patterns as Predictor of Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in Young Adults from a Population-based Study

Artery Research volume 27, pages 112–120 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

Our aim was to examine the impact of mismatch patterns reflecting pre- and post-natal growth conditions on markers of arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in young adults.

Methods

In all, 1056 participants from Malmö Offspring Study, 484 men and 572 women (age-range 18–44 years), were included. All participants were stratified into four subgroups based on low (≤0) or high (>0) Birth Weight z-score (BWz) and low (≤ median) or high (> median) Body Mass Index (BMI) at 20 years age (BMI20). All participants underwent carotidfemoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) measurement and pulse wave analysis with Sphygmocor. Additionally, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure data was recorded in a subgroup of 184 participants.

Results

Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), central SBP (cSBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and 24-h night-time SBP was higher (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.04) in “low BWz/high BMI20” (mismatch group) compared with “low BWz/low BMI20” (reference). The mismatch phenotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of elevated brachial [odds ratio (OR), 2.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.94–3.98] and cSBP (OR, 2.0; CI: 1.38–2.91) in young adults. No differences were observed in PWV or augmentation pressure index in comparison between “low BWz/high BMI20” and “low BWz/low BMI20.”

Conclusion

Lower birth weight in combination with a higher attained BMI in young adult life, is associated with higher brachial SBP/DBP and central SBP/DBP. Therefore, children born with low birth weight should be protected from exaggerated catch-up growth to reduce their risk of adult hypertension, obesity, and adverse central hemodynamics.

Highlights

We aimed to examine the impact of mismatch patterns between pre- and post-natal growth conditions on markers of arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in 1056 participants from a population-based study in Sweden, 484 men and 572 women in the age-range 18–44 years.

  • Lower birth weight was associated with higher Brachial DBP (bDBP), higher central SBP/DBP, and higher Aix.

  • Lower birth weight in combination with a higher attained BMI in young adult life (the mismatch phenotype) associates with higher bSBP/bDBP and higher central blood pressure.

  • We suggest an additive hemodynamic programming effect of weight gain during the two first decades of life following low birth weight.

References

  1. Lawlor DA, Ronalds G, Clark H, Smith GD, Leon DA. Birth weight is inversely associated with incident coronary heart disease and stroke among individuals born in the 1950s: findings from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s prospective cohort study. Circulation 2005;112:1414–18.

    Google Scholar 

  2. te Velde SJ, Ferreira I, Twisk JWR, Stehouwer CDA, van Mechelen W, Kemper HCG, et al. Birthweight and arterial stiffness and blood pressure in adulthood—results from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study. Int J Epidemiol 2004;33:154–61.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mzayek F, Sherwin R, Hughes J, Hassig S, Srinivasan S, Chen W, et al. The association of birth weight with arterial stiffness at mid-adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2009;63:729–33.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Miles KL, McDonnell BJ, Maki-Petaja KM, Yasmin, Cockcroft JR, Wilkinson IB, et al. The impact of birth weight on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in later life: the Enigma Study. J Hypertens 2011;29:2324–31.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Tan M, Cai L, Ma J, Jing J, Ma Y, Chen Y. The association of gestational age and birth weight with blood pressure among children: a Chinese national study. J Hum Hypertens 2018;32:651–9.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Paneth N, Susser M. Early origin of coronary heart disease (the “Barker hypothesis”). BMJ 1995;310:411–12.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hanson MA, Gluckman PD. Developmental origins of health and disease: new insights. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2008;102:90–3.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huang L, Yang S, Yang F, Xiong F. A prospective study about physical growth of children from birth to 2 years old born full-term small-for-gestational-age. J Paediatr Child Health 2019;55:199–204.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Larsson A, Ottosson P, Törnqvist C, Olhager E. Body composition and growth in full-term small for gestational age and large for gestational age Swedish infants assessed with air displacement plethysmography at birth and at 3–4 months of age. PLoS One 2019;14:e0207978.

  10. Kelishadi R, Haghdoost AA, Jamshidi F, Aliramezany M, Moosazadeh M. Low birthweight or rapid catch-up growth: which is more associated with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in later life? A systematic review and cryptanalysis. Paediatr Int Child Health 2015;35:110–23.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Leunissen RWJ, Kerkhof GF, Stijnen T, Hokken-Koelega ACS. Effect of birth size and catch-up growth on adult blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness. Horm Res Paediatr 2012; 77:394–401.

  12. Mora-Urda AI, Acevedo P, Montero López MP. Relationship between prenatal and postnatal conditions and accelerated postnatal growth. Impact on the rigidity of the arterial wall and obesity in childhood. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2019;10:436–46.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lei X, Chen Y, Ye J, Ouyang F, Jiang F, Zhang J. The optimal postnatal growth trajectory for term small for gestational age babies: a prospective cohort study. J Pediatr 2015;166:54.e3–8.e3.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Darendeliler F, Bas F, Bundak R, Coban A, Disci R, Sancakli O, et al. Elevated ghrelin levels in preterm born children during prepubertal ages and relationship with catch-up growth. Eur J Endocrinol 2008;159:555–60.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Vianna CA, Horta BL, Gigante DP, de Barros FCLF. Pulse wave velocity at early adulthood: breastfeeding and nutrition during pregnancy and childhood. PLoS One 2016;11:e0152501.

  16. Fabricius Bjerre S, Jensen RB, Færch K, Larsen T, Mølgaard C, Michaelsen KF, et al. Impact of birth weight and early infant weight gain on insulin resistance and associated cardiovascular risk factors in adolescence. PLoS One 2011;6:e20595.

  17. Dennison BA, Edmunds LS, Stratton HH, Pruzek RM. Rapid infant weight gain predicts childhood overweight. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006;14:491–9.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Law CM, Shiell AW, Newsome CA, Syddall HE, Shinebourne EA, Fayers PM, et al. Fetal, infant, and childhood growth and adult blood pressure: a longitudinal study from birth to 22 years of age. Circulation 2002;105:1088–92.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ben-Shlomo Y, McCarthy A, Hughes R, Tilling K, Davies D, Smith GD. Immediate postnatal growth is associated with blood pressure in young adulthood: the Barry Caerphilly Growth Study. Hypertension 2008;52:638–44.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kaakinen M, Sovio U, Hartikainen AL, Pouta A, Savolainen MJ, Herzig KH, et al. Life course structural equation model of the effects of prenatal and postnatal growth on adult blood pressure. J Epidemiol Community Health 2014;68:1161–7.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leon DA, Koupilova I, Lithell HO, Berglund L, Mohsen R, Vagero D, et al. Failure to realise growth potential in utero and adult obesity in relation to blood pressure in 50 year old Swedish men. BMJ 1996;312:401–6.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sperling J, Nilsson PM. Does early life programming influence arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in adulthood? J Hypertens 2020;38:481–8.

  23. Brunkwall L, Jönsson D, Ericson U, Hellstrand S, Kennbäck C, Östling G, et al. The Malmö Offspring Study (MOS): design, methods and first results. Eur J Epidemiol 2021;36:103–16.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rosberg EP, Nilsson PM. Family patterns of arterial stiffness across three generations in the Malmö Offspring Study. J Hypertens 2020;38:474–80.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Guo QH, Muhammad IF, Borné Y, Sheng CS, Persson M, Wang JG, et al. Difference in the risk profiles of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity: results from two community-based studies in China and Sweden. J Hum Hypertens 2020;34:207–13.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Niklasson A, Ericson A, Fryer JG, Karlberg J, Lawrence C, Karlberg P. An update of the swedish reference standards for weight, length and head circumference at birth for given gestational age (1977–1981). Acta Paediatr Scand 1991;80:756–62.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bland JM, Altman DG. Statistics notes. The odds ratio. BMJ 2000;320:1468.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Isolated systolic hypertension in the young: a position paper endorsed by the European Society of Hypertension. J Hypertens 2018;36:2120.

  29. Ashraf MS, Vongpatanasin W. Estrogen and hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 2006;8:368–76.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cheung YB, Low L, Osmond C, Barker D, Karlberg J. Fetal growth and early postnatal growth are related to blood pressure in adults. Hypertension 2000;36:795–800.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Marinkovic T, Toemen L, Kruithof CJ, Reiss I, van Osch-Gevers L, Hofman A, et al. Early infant growth velocity patterns and cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in childhood. J Pediatr 2017;186:57.e4–63.e4.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Cziraki A, Husznai R, Nemeth A, Lenkey Z, Bocskei R, Gaszner B, et al. The investigation of central arterial stifness and central blood pressure parameters in various cardiovascular diseases. Eur Heart J 2018;39:1546.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lurbe E, Carvajal E, Torro I, Aguilar F, Alvarez J, Redon J. Influence of concurrent obesity and low birth weight on blood pressure phenotype in youth. Hypertension 2009;53:912–17.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Salvi P, Revera M, Joly L, Reusz G, Iaia M, Benkhedda S, et al. Role of birth weight and postnatal growth on pulse wave velocity in teenagers. J Adolesc Health 2012;51:373–9.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Laurent S, Cockcroft J, Van Bortel L, Boutouyrie P, Giannattasio C, Hayoz D, et al. Expert consensus document on arterial stiffness: methodological issues and clinical applications. Eur Heart J 2006;27:2588–605.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Roman MJ, Okin PM, Kizer JR, Lee ET, Howard BV, Devereux RB. Relations of central and brachial blood pressure to left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry: the Strong Heart Study. J Hypertens 2010;28:384–8.

    Google Scholar 

  37. McEniery CM, Yasmin, Hall IR, Qasem A, Wilkinson IB, Cockcroft JR. Normal vascular aging: differential effects on wave reflection and aortic pulse wave velocity: the Anglo-Cardiff Collaborative Trial (ACCT). J Am Coll Cardiol 2005; 46:1753–60.

  38. Socialstyrelsen. The National Board of Health and Welfare. Statistics on Pregnancies, Deliveries and Newborn Infants 2016. 2018. Available from: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/globalassets/sharepoint-dokument/artikelkatalog/statistik/2018-1-7.pdf.

  39. Yajnik CS, Yajnik PC. Fetal adiposity epidemic in the modern world: a thrifty phenotype aggravated by maternal obesity and diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr 2020;112:8–10.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Koivistoinen T, Hutri-Kähönen N, Juonala M, Aatola H, Kööbi T, Lehtimäki T, et al. Metabolic syndrome in childhood and increased arterial stiffness in adulthood — The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Ann Med 2011;43:312–19.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ikonomidis I, Aboyans V, Blacher J, Brodmann M, Brutsaert DL, Chirinos JA, et al. The role of ventricular–arterial coupling in cardiac disease and heart failure: assessment, clinical implications and therapeutic interventions. A consensus document of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Aorta & Peripheral Vascular Diseases, European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, and Heart Failure Association. Eur J Heart Fail 2019; 21:402–24.

  42. Källén B, Källén K. The Swedish Medical Birth Register - a summary of content and quality. Stockholm: Socialstyrelsen; 2003.

  43. Warrington NM, Beaumont RN, Horikoshi M, Day FR, Helgeland Ø, Laurin C, et al. Maternal and fetal genetic effects on birth weight and their relevance to cardio-metabolic risk factors. Nat Genet 2019;51:804–14.

    Google Scholar 

  44. de Beer M, Vrijkotte TGM, Fall CHD, van Eijsden M, Osmond C, Gemke RJBJ. Associations of infant feeding and timing of weight gain and linear growth during early life with childhood blood pressure: findings from a prospective population based cohort study. PLoS One 2016;11:e0166281.

  45. Intapad S, Dasinger JH, Johnson JM, Brown AD, Ojeda NB, Alexander BT. Male and female intrauterine growth-restricted offspring differ in blood pressure, renal function, and glucose homeostasis responses to a postnatal diet high in fat and sugar. Hypertension 2019;73:620–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Internal Medicine Research Group, Jan Waldenströms gata 15, Floor 5, S-20502, Malmö, Sweden

    Johannes Sperling, Shantanu Sharma & Peter M. Nilsson

Authors
  1. Johannes Sperling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shantanu Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter M. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter M. Nilsson.

Additional information

Peer review under responsibility of the Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology

Data availability statement: Data are available upon reasonable request and application sent to Professor Olle Melander, Chair of the Board for the Malmö Offspring Study, as part of the Malmö Population-based Cohorts (https://www.malmo-kohorter.lu.se/english)

Rights and permissions

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sperling, J., Sharma, S. & Nilsson, P.M. Birth Weight in Relation to Post-Natal Growth Patterns as Predictor of Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in Young Adults from a Population-based Study. Artery Res 27, 112–120 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/artres.k.210215.001

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/artres.k.210215.001

Key Words

Artery Research

ISSN: 1876-4401

Contact us